A/N: I just want to say thanks to all who read this, it's by far the less fluffy one I've written to date (I think). But don't worry the HEA (and some fluff) will come, there are just a few more bumps ahead of them. I'm so excited whenever someone leaves a kudos or comment on this. I write this for your enjoyment and my own. Parts of this story could be something I'd repurpose for an original romance novel… someday.
Huge thanks again to my beta, such a great help she is.
Enjoy
Chapter 5Emma found a chair where she would be able to sit and watch the last scene being played out. It was the grand gesture finale where the two lead roles would finally declare their love for one another and was one of the best moments in the story. She'd come accustomed to watching Killian acting out the scenes she'd written. But every time he was off stage she'd avoid any sort of contact, if Ruby had noticed anything her friend never mentioned it.
"Hi, Emma." Ariel came up next to her, all dressed up in a red sequin dress much similar to the one the front cover model had worn on her book cover.
"Hey!, Are you ready to get the last scene wrapped up?"
"Yup, all ready. This has been so awesome working with everyone, it's the biggest movie I've worked on." Ariel rushed out, smiling. "Your story is amazing! I'm so happy to have you here on set, you know my character's deepest secrets."
"Thank you." Emma grinned. Ariel was a sweet and bubbly woman who always spoke in rapid succession on whatever topic she'd picked up. "You've all been so good. I can't even express how amazing it's been seeing my story come to life."
"And I must admit, I'm so glad that the Mills sisters picked Killian for the male lead role." Ariel leaned in closer and whispered, "That Jefferson dude had been a creep to work with. He was too barmy if you ask me."
Emma laughed. "Yeah I was there, remember." At each of the man's auditions, the actresses playing opposite him had looked uncomfortable.
"It's sad you missed my audition with Killian," Ariel mused, before tilting her head. "What happened that day if, you don't mind me asking?"
"It's a long story, all water under the bridge." Emma waved her off. "I was still trying to get used to being in the big city, I guess." She had no desire to reveal too much of her past with Killian to everyone here.
"I understand, when I first began acting I was so freaking nervous."
"You've done an awesome job with this," Emma reassured her.
"Thanks." Ariel looked across over the set. It was all decked out to look like a rooftop, a backdrop of city lights twinkling to set the scene, where the female character would find her musician and declare her love for him. They would end up running out of the city, escaping her father's clutches just to be together. "I better go." Ariel waved and walked over to Killian who was getting the final touches on his makeup done.
Emma realized that the man had been looking her way all the time she'd been speaking with Ariel. She gulped down and felt her face heat, even though she wasn't under the bright stage lights. Averting his gaze she tried to find something else to occupy her mind and when she spotted a copy of the script on a small table beside her, she picked it up and paged through today's scene. It really was such an awesome adaptation Ruby had done with this, and Emma couldn't wait to see it play out. When she looked up, she noticed Killian was still glancing her way from time to time, but more and more people around him demanded his attention now that the filming was about to begin. With a final shrug and longing look her way he turned his focus on the scene ahead of him.
Emma had to give it to him how easy it was for him to fall into character and forget everything around him. Acting seemed to come naturally to him, and she wondered if he'd wish to do it again.
Killian got up on his spot on the set, sitting on a crate with his guitar where he'd be strumming a tune that was far too familiar by now. The Mills sisters had asked him if he would allow them to use his latest single, "His Forever Girl", in the last scene.
As the final scene played out, Emma watched Killian more closely, and she felt her heart ache with old grief and lost chances. How could it have gone so wrong back then? Had she not done enough to find him again? Perhaps her young heart had just been too broken and made herself believe he'd forgotten all about her. It was all in the past; she wasn't ready to let anyone in right now, it would cost her too much to open up to anyone.
When August Booth called out, "That's a wrap ladies and gentlemen." Everyone applauded and cheered. Someone rolled in a large cake and they brought glasses of champagne to everyone.
Emma smiled and shared the happiness with everyone around her and took a small bow when someone toasted to her story starting this adventure for them all. It had been a few crazy months doing the filming, and it was now finally wrapped up and ready for the editors to cut it into the final movie. As everyone else's focus turned elsewhere Emma realized Killian was striding towards her and she knew she couldn't avoid him this time.
"It's a wrap, eh?" Killian smiled and lifted his drink. "I salute you, for writing such an amazing story.
"Thank you." Emma lifted her own glass. "And to you and Ariel for making my characters come to life for the world to see." Emma looked around. "The rest of the crew here has done an amazing job too."
"Had you not written this story, we wouldn't be here now would we?" He lifted an eyebrow and Emma had to stop herself from blushing. That little movement was so familiar, whenever he'd be telling a joke or giving her some form of flatter.
Emma shrugged and busied herself with taking a sip of her drink before blurting out "Have you tried the cake yet?" She stepped towards the trolly holding the insanely large cake, decorated with a guitar and glitter.
"Emma?" Killian wrapped his hand around her wrist, stopping her from moving away. "Speak with me, please."
Emma pursed her lips and felt her inside flip with distress. She couldn't, no, she wouldn't, let him break down her walls. Not again. Her heart couldn't deal with it.
"Emma, please. I know I was an arse back then. I was a lost teenager who had to pick up the mess of a father, or as much as my brother would let me." His voice was hard and clipped as he spoke, it was clearly some painful memories that he'd pulled to mind.
"I hope you and your brother got it all sorted out." Emma was still not facing him, opting to look at her feet instead, his hand was still wrapped around her wrist. When his pinky slipped down to trace over the lines of her palm she whispered, "Killian, please don't."
"We did, and then the bastard died on me." The pain was clear in his voice and she finally looked at him and he looked like a lost teenager all over again.
"Who?"
"My brother." He swallowed and looked up at the vaulted ceiling. "The bastard died in a car accident six months after we'd come to England."
"I'm sorry." She looked away, not knowing what to do with this information.
"I spiraled down into a deep dark hole. I should have fought harder to get back on my feet. To get back to you."
Emma slowly turned her eyes back on him and the regret was clear in his deep blue eyes, "Why didn't you?"
"I was an arse, and I was utterly broken and weak. I tried to drink it away and survived on scraps from my father's estate and took up playing in pubs around London." He took a tentative step closer and continued. "That was where Will found me, he's my agent, he pulled me out of the gutter and presented me to his boss, Robin Locksley."
"That's how your band started?" She had to admit that she'd never really looked into the history of his music career, it would just be too painful to see his face on those pages again.
"Aye." His eyes turned pensive. "It's been one hell of a ride ever since."
"I can imagine." Emma gave him a small smile, her heart beating away in her chest and her breath caught in her throat when his fingers squeezed around her wrist.
"Can I call you?"
Emma blinked in surprise at his question, she'd never expected this, "I…"
"Just to keep in touch, nothing else." He pleaded, his head tilted as he waited for her reply.
"I don't know…" She worried her lips and with a deep sigh she said, "I was hurt, I'm still hurting, I don't know if I ever…" She let her words drop as she tried to sort out what she wanted from this. "I want to keep in touch, we had so much back then, things we never got to do, so many things left unsaid."
"Let's just talk, and text, and see how it all pans out for us. Aye?"
"Hmm," Emma relented, and she felt him relax his grip around her wrist and when she looked down, she heard him gasp and let go.
"I'm sorry, I…"
Emma looked up and placed her hand on his chest, "It's okay." His heart was beating under her palm and she realized that he only wore a thin shirt he'd worn on this last take. The heat of his body emanated through the fabric within seconds. She quickly pulled away and rubbed her hand on her thigh.
"Give me your phone."
"Uh?"
"I'll type in my number and you can text when you're ready?"
Emma pulled out her phone as her mind reeled knowing that he now had placed the ball in her corner. She could make the next move.
When he'd finished typing in his number, she took the phone saying, "Thank you, I'll keep in touch."
"Emma!" Ruby's voice shouted from behind her. "We need to get going so we have enough time to prepare for the wrap party."
"See you around, Jones." Emma waved and walked to her friend. When she reached Ruby she glanced over her shoulder and realized that Killian still had his gaze focused on her.
"Why the red face?" Ruby laughed and nudged Emma's shoulder.
"Uh?"
"Your face is all red."
"No." Emma placed her palm against her cheek and felt the heat emanating from them. God she hoped she could keep it down around Killian tonight, she thought.
"Hmm, you keep telling yourself that girl," Ruby said laughing before she followed Emma out of the building.
Hours later Emma and Ruby walked into the venue the Mills sisters had booked for the wrap party. She managed to not trip in the long red skirt, that Ruby had been very insistent that would be the perfect dress for this occasion when they'd gone dress shopping the other day. Looking down at the plunging neckline Emma wasn't so sure.
Emma glanced around the large ballroom. Chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, and tables lined the walls where the guests could enjoy some of the finger food on offer, along with drinks all around.
"This is so much fun!" Ruby exclaimed, tugging on Emma's arm. "Look there's some peeps I haven't seen."
Emma looked in the direction Ruby pointed out and saw Killian along with a group she'd never seen. "I guess some of Killian's friends or fa… " She stopped herself, she knew now that Killian didn't have any family. "I guess it's his band?"
"Oh yeah," Ruby gushed out and when Emma looked at her friend, she could see the gleam in the other woman's eye.
"Down girl." Emma laughed. "I heard, or well Belle, my boss back home, told me that at least one of the guys there is dating one of the singers."
"I know, the drummer is taken, but damn girl did you see the guy next to Killian."
Emma looked and saw a man with shaggy brown hair that he kept pushing away from his face, he had a scruffy look but was dressed to the nines in a tailored suit, bowtie included.
Just then Killian turned around and Emma's eyes scanned his form, the suit was dark blue and she was sure it would make his blue eyes stand out. Right now he was too far away for her to see for herself. He didn't seem to have noticed her yet, as he kept speaking with his band and Emma could see how at ease he was with that group.
Emma didn't notice when Ruby had left her side, but right now she wasn't ready to face Killian, so she slipped to the side and found a table where she could see the dance floor. She soon realized where Ruby had headed and saw her engage the brown-haired man from Killian's band; he seemed quite taken with the leggy woman dragging him out on the dance floor.
Inadvertently she searched for Killian again and spotted him by the bar, ordering a drink. A blond woman snug up next to him and wrapped her arm around him and pecked his cheek with her blood-red lips. Emma was too far away to fully see Killian's face, but he seemed to engage in speaking with the women, his head nodding at something she said to him. The woman's hands wandered all over his arm and shoulders and soon found a resting place low on his back. It did seem as if this movement had him tense up slightly but when he turned his head to the woman, he had a smile on his face.
Something flared up inside her and she wasn't ready to acknowledge what the feeling really was jealousy. But the feeling took a twist and loop when the woman dragged Killian to the dance floor and snuggled closer to his form. His hands dropped to the woman's hips and Emma realized that the woman's dress had a swooping back that showed far too much skin. This was crazy. Emma stumbled up from her seat, ignoring the display happening on the dancefloor, and headed for the bar. This night might be a time to wallow in self-pity and she needed a drink.